An airplane carrying Otto Warmbier, who is from OH, landed in Cincinnati late Tuesday night. "I think we're very excited yet very prayerful about what is happening because we've heard he is in a coma". And while Rodman has visited the country a few times before, this trip is even weirder.

Earlier this week, Defence Secretary James Mattis testified to Congress that North Korea was the "most urgent" threat against the safety and security of the United States.

Last month, Mr. Warmbier's imprisonment came up as part of continuing negotiations in Oslo, during so-called Track 2 talks - unofficial discussions primarily involving American former senior officials and current North Korean officials and diplomats - about how the United States and North Korea could start resolving their differences, particularly over the North's nuclear and missile programs.

"We want the world to know how we and our son have been brutalized and terrorized by the pariah regime" in North Korea, they said.

North Korea claims Warmbier contractied botulism and they gave him a "sleeping pill".

Before arriving this time, Rodman told reporters that Trump would be happy with the trip because he was "trying to accomplish something that we both need", prompting speculation that he may be operating as an unofficial envoy.

"Each action can individually increase the cost and complexity of sanctions evasion for North Korea, but if applied against a number of these key nodes simultaneously, they could, in theory, cause the entire overseas system to collapse". "Mr. Warmbier is en route to the United States, where he will be reunited with his family". His parents had him transferred to University of Cincinnati Medical Center in ambulance.

At least three American citizens are still being held in North Korea.

Yun arrived on Monday, visited Warmbier with two doctors and demanded his release, the official said.

Kenneth Bae, a Korean-American missionary, served two years of detention in the North before being released in November 2014 when then-U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper made a secret trip to Pyongyang to win his release and that of another U.S. detainee. "What will they do if it's obvious the North Koreans were engaged in a possible coverup?"

But the aide added: "You now have a channel with a senior administration official and a North Korean official with some degree of confidence".

WYOMING, Ohio (AP) - People in the Ohio hometown of a college student released by North Korea said they were pleased he was back and expressed hopes Wednesday for his recovery as he remained hospitalized in a coma. "We learned of this only one week ago", said Fred and Cindy Warmbier in a statement. "For North Korea to imprison Otto with no notification or consular access for more than a year is the utmost example of its complete failure to recognize fundamental human rights and dignity". Sweden represents USA diplomatic interests in North Korea.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced Warmbier's release on Tuesday during an appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations committee.

It's not clear if he was forced to speak by the North Koreans. The State Department together with the medical team is now trying their best to ensure Warmbier is well and reunited with his family.